Dengue and Scrub Typhus Coinfection: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Abstract

Due to overlapping clinical features, scrub typhus infection may be missed in presence of dengue. Concurrent infection with those two pathogens is rare and creates a diagnostic dilemma. We present a case of a 65-year-old male who was admitted with a high-grade fever and maculopapular rash. A complete hemogram revealed thrombocytopenia with raised hematocrit and positive diagnostic tests for dengue. The patient was treated conservatively with intravenous fluids and antipyretic medications in response to which the hematocrit improved, and the rash disappeared. But fever with thrombocytopenia continued to persist. On further clinical examination, a small eschar was noted on his abdomen. Doxycycline was started upon which the fever subsided, and thrombocytopenia improved. This case illustrates the importance of early recognition of coinfection in unremitting febrile illness in tropical countries to prevent potentially dangerous complications.

Keywords

• dengue fever
• scrub typhus
• eschar
• thrombocytopenia
• doxycycline
• india